Script to export Apples notes to plain text

export-apple-notes.sh

#!/bin/bash
# Export Apple Notes to Markdown files with YAML frontmatter
# Uses JXA (JavaScript for Automation) to access Notes.app

OUTPUT_DIR="${1:-$(pwd)/apple-notes-export}"
mkdir -p "$OUTPUT_DIR"

echo "Exporting Apple Notes..."

osascript -l JavaScript <<'JSEOF' | OUTPUT_DIR="$OUTPUT_DIR" python3 -c "
import json, sys, os, re

output_dir = os.environ['OUTPUT_DIR']

def sanitize_filename(name):
    # Remove or replace characters invalid in filenames
    name = re.sub(r'[/\\\\:*?\"<>|]', '-', name)
    name = re.sub(r'\\s+', ' ', name).strip()
    if not name:
        name = 'Untitled'
    # Truncate to reasonable length
    if len(name) > 200:
        name = name[:200]
    return name

data = json.load(sys.stdin)
print(f'Found {len(data)} notes')

# Track duplicate filenames
name_counts = {}

for note in data:
    title = note['name'] or 'Untitled'
    folder = note['folder'] or 'Unfiled'
    created = note['created']
    modified = note['modified']
    body = note['body']

    # Create folder subdirectory
    folder_dir = os.path.join(output_dir, sanitize_filename(folder))
    os.makedirs(folder_dir, exist_ok=True)

    # Handle duplicate filenames
    base_name = sanitize_filename(title)
    key = os.path.join(folder_dir, base_name)
    if key in name_counts:
        name_counts[key] += 1
        filename = f'{base_name} ({name_counts[key]}).md'
    else:
        name_counts[key] = 0
        filename = f'{base_name}.md'

    filepath = os.path.join(folder_dir, filename)

    # Build frontmatter
    frontmatter = '---\n'
    frontmatter += f'title: \"{title.replace(chr(34), chr(92)+chr(34))}\"\n'
    frontmatter += f'folder: \"{folder}\"\n'
    frontmatter += f'created: \"{created}\"\n'
    frontmatter += f'updated: \"{modified}\"\n'
    frontmatter += '---\n\n'

    content = frontmatter + (body or '')

    with open(filepath, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as f:
        f.write(content)

print(f'Exported to {output_dir}/')
for folder in sorted(os.listdir(output_dir)):
    folder_path = os.path.join(output_dir, folder)
    if os.path.isdir(folder_path):
        count = len([f for f in os.listdir(folder_path) if f.endswith('.md')])
        print(f'  {folder}: {count} notes')
"
// JXA script to extract all notes as JSON
var Notes = Application('Notes');
Notes.includeStandardAdditions = true;

var results = [];
var accounts = Notes.accounts();

for (var i = 0; i < accounts.length; i++) {
    var folders = accounts[i].folders();
    for (var j = 0; j < folders.length; j++) {
        var folderName = folders[j].name();
        var notes = folders[j].notes();
        for (var k = 0; k < notes.length; k++) {
            try {
                var note = notes[k];
                var created = note.creationDate().toISOString();
                var modified = note.modificationDate().toISOString();
                results.push({
                    name: note.name(),
                    folder: folderName,
                    created: created,
                    modified: modified,
                    body: note.plaintext()
                });
            } catch(e) {
                // Skip notes that can't be read (e.g. password protected)
                results.push({
                    name: "Error reading note",
                    folder: folderName,
                    created: "",
                    modified: "",
                    body: "Could not export this note: " + e.message
                });
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON.stringify(results);
JSEOF

echo "Done!"